In the last two months two elephants have died at the Kansas City Zoo. How does the zoo dispose of these animals, particularly in light of the suggestion that one died of West Nile Virus?

A 25-year-old African bull elephant named Dale died Nov. 3 at the zoo. Sept. 24, another African bull elephant named Casey, 52, died of old age, zoo officials said. Dale may have had West Nile, but the results of blood tests are pending, said Max Evans, zoo marketing manager.

Both elephants were buried at an undisclosed location in Swope Park, Evans said. There are no markers for the grave sites. The bodies were so big they had to be dismembered to take them to a grave. Smaller animals are cremated.